B&Q backs sustainability report to help UK households reach net zero

Today, environmental charity Hubbub, launches ‘Home Advantage’, a blueprint for government and businesses to support UK households to live more sustainably. The report draws on the findings of an in-depth study working closely with 175 UK homeowners over three months, supported by polling of 501 UK homeowners.

While the recommendations are made by Hubbub, the Home Advantage study has been supported by B&Q and a cohort of businesses, Barratt Redrow PLC, Starbucks UK, TSB, Unilever UK and Virgin Media O2, who provided funding for the study, as well as lending their subject matter expertise and insights from their sector.

The study provided participants with advice and inspiration to encourage them to make sustainable changes in their homes, and provide input on what external support would be most useful in helping them advance their sustainable efforts further. As a result, the research reflects a wide range of everyday habits – from the food we eat, to the things we buy and throw away, as well as home energy and heating.

The report highlights the role businesses play in household action, with 76% of homeowners polled revealing that they believe businesses need to support households to do their bit for climate change and help balance emissions. While a further 75% of households polled revealed they are open to making changes to how they live to help do their bit for climate change and help balance emissions, with the right help and support from business and government. The mission of the project is to understand how households can be supported to make the sustainable changes they want, to create homes and ways of living that are fit for the future.

Household action on climate change is an essential part of the combined effort needed from all corners of society to reach net zero, including businesses and government too. In 2022, the Climate Change Committee revealed that 32% of the emission reductions needed between now and 2035 to meet net zero, rely on the choices made by households, demonstrating the essential role household actions play in the combined effort to reach net zero.

The aim of the report is to understand how households can be supported to make the sustainable changes they want, to create homes and ways of living that are fit for the future.

Commenting on the reports launch, Gavin Ellis, director and co-founder at Hubbub, said: “We’ve listened carefully to homeowners across the country, and we are encouraged by the overwhelming appetite to act. Householders have told us they want to know where to start, what will make the biggest difference, how much it will cost, what the wider benefits will be and how others will also play their part. We’ve identified a range of recommendations for government and business to support people to live more sustainably. We believe this challenge requires a radical rethink of how these issues are presented to the public to stimulate a step change in demand for sustainable choices. Applying the overarching principles from this report alone could help the UK to make huge strides towards the third of emissions reduction required by 2035 that relies on the decisions of households.”

Joanna Gluzman, Director of Responsible Business at B&Q echoed this “We welcome the findings of the research that shows a willingness by consumers to do more to make their homes more sustainable and identifies the most effective ways for Government and business to help households to make more sustainable choices for their homes.

There’s a clear need for certainty and consistency in giving homeowners a roadmap of home efficiency measures, along with simplicity in communication to build trust and drive action, and financial incentives to overcome cost barriers, such as those for home energy improvements.

What is also clear is the need for a holistic and integrated approach. For example, simplifying EPC certificates to make them more practical and understandable would help households choose appropriate home energy improvements, which in turn would drive greater demand for skilled and trusted tradespeople, who are already in short supply in the UK.”

Home Energy and Heating Recommendations:

The insights from Home Advantage have helped create a number of policy recommendations for government and businesses in the home energy and heating sector. These include:

1.  Build household willingness and confidence to make energy upgrades (see Pg 57)

2.   Improve the end-to-end experience for homeowners making home energy upgrades (see page 58)

3.  Tackle trust and skills gaps in the supply chain (see Page 58)

For access to the full report, please visit: https://bit.ly/hubbubhomeadvantage